A/N: Another chapter. This should set the stage for other events. It's a bit hard to not make this fic the "Mikoto, Misaki, and Gunha Show" since those three are the most active characters. In fact, everyone else hardly had any lines. I should probably fix that.


Riddle

After previous events, everyone went back to their original seating arrangement. Sitting at the long table, Misaka Mikoto glared at Shokuhou Misaki.

This is… a very serious matter! Using this experiment as an excuse to create a club… and declaring herself as the leader! Absolutely nothing good can come out of this!

With a hardened resolution, Misaka Mikoto took a stand!

"I don't approve of this at all! This is supposed to be a social experiment! Why should I have to take part in some strange club all of a sudden?"

...

The Number 5 blinked.

She put a gloved finger to her mouth.

"…"

Wrapping her brain for a moment, she then made a cutesy pose.

"That's a toughie~! You got me good~!"

Oi, oi.

Background

Shokuhou Misaki narrowed her eyes and made a thin smile.

"You said it yourself, Misaka-san. This is a social experiment."

"Eh?"

"The requirement of this experiment is that we are to spend an hour in this room. Whether we engage in activities or not… it doesn't really matter. What matters is that we stay."

"…"

"And I believe each one of us has a reason for being here."

Around the room, there seemed to be… an uneasiness. From the Number 1 to the Number 7, a situational awareness was made…

That there was something hidden behind the absurdity.

"That being said, do you have anything to lose by participating?"

Misaka Mikoto continued to glare. But she slowly sat back down.

"Don't take this the wrong way. I'm not giving you a free pass or anything. Just as long as you aren't doing anything harmful, I won't interfere."

"You're such a cutie, you know that?"

Suggestions

"Continuing from before, we still haven't found a name for our group."

Shokuhou Misaki turned to the others with a marker in hand.

"Anyone have any suggestions?"

Instantly, Sogiita Gunha's hand shot up.

( Gunha: Ooh! Ooh! Me! Me! Pick me! )

Glossing over to someone else…

"Mugino-san? Is there a name you're particularly fond of?"

"Ehh…"

The Number 4 didn't take too kindly being called upon.

"How about 'Piss off-' no- 'Go Die-' no- 'Just Die Already Club'."

( Shizuri: Yeah. That last one sounds pretty good actually. )

"I'll keep that one on reserve for now."

Suggestions II

Sogiita Gunha was still holding his hand high. He was stretching so much, his face was turning red.

The Number 5 looked elsewhere.

"How about you? Insect guy. Do you have any ideas?"

"…"

The Number 2 frowned.

"Calling me 'Insect Guy' is insulting. Rather, with my background, I've become a real life K*men Rider, don't you think?"

( Misaki: No one cares. Just give me a name. )

"Well if it's a name you want, then… I suppose…"

Kakine Teitoku changed his posture. In deep thought, he covered his mouth.

"This is no good. All I can come up with are K*men Rider references. Please get back to me later."

( Misaki: Useless…! )

Suggestions III

"Misaka-san?"

Shokuhou Misaki tilted her head and smiled expectantly.

Ugh…

Feeling frustrated, Misaka Mikoto turned away from her gaze.

"Coming up with a name on the spot is difficult. Even more-so when you have no idea what the activities will be like…"

The Number 3 shut her eyes and spoke rationally.

"But if you're looking for something generic… then something like 'Future Leaders Club' should be alright."

"Misaka-san… even though you were so opposed to the idea…"

Shokuhou Misaki put a hand to her chest. Her eyes glistened softly.

"It warms me up knowing that you're taking this seriously."

E-Eh?

Taken by surprise from her sincerity, Misaka Mikoto slightly blushed.

"Y-Yeah… well, that's-"

"Still. Rejected. It's too boring."

Gah! This girl!

Suggestions IV

Sogiita Gunha triumphantly stood on the table.

"I see! Of course you would want to save the best for last, Leader!"

No, no. She was obviously ignoring you. And please get down from there.

The Number 7 clenched his fist and charged himself up.

"ALRIGHT EVERYONE! GET READY FOR IT!"

Sogiita Gunha smirked.

"FROM NOW ON, WE WILL BE KNOWN AS…!"

Yelling at the top of his lungs…

"THE SUUUUUUPER SEVEEEEEEEEEEN!"

Explosions of different colored plumes appeared as he said this.

...

"…"

...

Sogiita Gunha glanced down to observe the reaction, but he was met with disinterested looks.

"Eh?"

Suggestions V

The murmurs and rumblings of the other members:

( "That sounds a little too gaudy." )

( "Amazing. He was even able to say that with a straight face too." )

( "I knew I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up." )

( "Seven? Is that right? Are there seven of us here? I mean, I guess…" )

Taken aback…

"Eh? B-But! That's- that's the- the title- that's the title isn't it?"

Sogiita Gunha stumbled as he desperately tried to defend his piss-poor excuse of a good name. Truly, it was awful. Just awful. He probably spent hours agonizing over it, but only got something barely passable out of the entire process. What a terrible godawful name it was.

"I-I was tricked…!-?"

That's what you get for choosing the easy way out.

"EHHH!-?"

Understanding

As time went on, the whiteboard eventually filled up with name suggestions.

What's this?

After scanning the various titles written in black marker, Misaka Mikoto noticed. Written underneath 'Light Music Club', 'Neighbor's Club', and 'Service Club', there was something weird.

"Hey. You wrote this down, didn't you."

"Hmm?"

Shokuhou Misaki played dumb and looked to the side.

"I'm talking about this one here. Right here. The 'Misaka Mikoto Fanclub'."

"Oh? That? I may have done that."

Misaka Mikoto was becoming stressed.

"What the hell is that supposed to be?"

"Obviously… a club… for fans… of Misaka Mikoto."

The Number 5 broke it down for her while gleaming.

"I know what it means, you fool!"

Change It

"This makes no sense! Just why would I be a part of my own fanclub?"

"Narcissism?"

"It's not a riddle, dang it…!"

Shokuhou Misaki let out a breath.

"If you're going to make such a fuss over it, I'll change it to something more suitable for you."

Misaka Mikoto was relieved.

Yes, yes. Do that now. Last thing I want is to be a part of something embarrassing.

The Number 3 watched as the words 'Misaka Mikoto' were crossed off and replaced with something more suitable. The new name:

The Kamijou Touma Fanclub.

"CHANGE IT BAAAAAAAAAACK!"

Pandora's Box

Shokuhou Misaki showed off a tissue box.

( Misaki: Ta-da~! )

"For simplicity, we'll decide the name by lottery. Inside this tissue box are everyone's suggestions written on strips of paper. I'll just choose one randomly and-"

"Hold up!"

Shokuhou Misaki gave an uncharacteristically tired expression.

"Misaka-san. Your interruptions are getting grating."

It's because you keep doing strange things…!

Misaka Mikoto gathered herself.

"Let me do it. I'll pick out the lot."

"…"

A staring contest between the Number 3 and Number 5 followed after that statement. But it ended quickly. Shokuhou Misaki smiled and handed her the box.

"Do as you wish."

The Number 3's Resolution

With her hand inside the tissue box, Misaka Mikoto sighed.

The only reason I'm doing this is to make sure no one is pulling any strings. But right now, it actually kind of looks like I'm an involved member…

She glanced up to find some strange faces looking at her. They were chanting quietly.

( Gunha: S*S Brigade! Light Music Club! Classics Club! )

( Shizuri: Piss off! Go Die! Just Die Already! )

( Teitoku: Rider Kick! Rider Punch! Rider Chop! )

Ignoring that, she let her fingers sort out the scraps of paper.

Whatever you want to call this group, it doesn't matter… All of this is an experiment. An artificially created environment designed to test our social interactions.

So whatever happens here, stays here. And when it ends, it ends.

For all of us.

As she slowly lifted a lot from the box, the characters for 'fanclub' could clearly be seen.

Please let this end soon.


Next Chapter: Sogiita Gunha gives life lessons.